Singalila Trek – 2: We stepped in Chitrey

After reaching NJP at noon, we boarded our pre-hired car up to Chitrey, where we were supposed to spend the first night before commencing our trek. As our car passed through the beautiful forests at ground level and started to reach higher altitudes, the temperature began to fall and we could feel the chill along with a touch of beauty. Being excited to go to the top, we started taking a few selfies in the middle of the road, and we finally reached Chitrey on a very cloudy evening patched with light drizzle.

IMAGE: Groupie on our way

IMAGE: First selfie at Chitrey

That night we enjoyed ourselves a lot, with merriment, songs and music at our dinner table. The next day was the day from which we were supposed to commence our journey, so it is quite obvious that everyone wanted to make the most of it.

Day 2 — an amazing sunrise

We woke up very early in the morning as we expected some great scenic beauty during sunrise. The first light came through the mist of a snowy morning, spreading gold dust throughout the valley and air. I noticed some amazing Buddhist monasteries and gumphas there and decided to take photographs — no one wanted to waste a moment, even though the temperature was near freezing and our hands were getting frozen with a dead feeling through the veins.

IMAGE: Buddhist monasteries at Chitrey

IMAGE: First light at Chitrey

Shang — the holy chants and prayers to God. Just prior to the commencement of our journey I saw this thing from which there was a fragrance amidst the smoke, from a box-like object. It resembled our ‘Dhup Dhuna’ cultural way of worship in Bengal. I came to learn the name of this as ‘Shang’, the Nepalese way of worshipping God, and before the commencement of a journey it is considered auspicious.

So, with all the prayers and good wishes, we started off. Our initial steps were joyful and filled with vigour as we jumped and danced through the first few paces. Some of us were busy taking shots, and here came the first ascent in the form of a green valley.

Our guides and porters told us that if you want to enjoy the trek and shorten the time you need to take the unusual route — through the mountain, not by traversing the regular paths. So we did. We followed them across the valleys and kept on moving. I stopped for a few steps to take this photograph, just to give you all an idea of how beautiful our starting point was.

IMAGE: Chiradeep Da as seen through my lenses

Read the next article for the continued journey: Singalila Trek – 3: Amazing Meghma to Tumbling